Dein erstes Forum » that Rutgers used freshman quarterback Tylin Oden

Some saw a American League Championship Series pitting the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cleveland Indians coming, but few saw each team flying into the ALCS coming off inspiring sweeps.The Jays won in a walk-off in the wild-card game then swept the?Texas Rangers?-- the first postseason series sweep in Blue Jays history -- in a Game 3 walk-off in the first postseason series ever to end with the winning run scoring on an error. The Indians swept the?Red Sox, holding the games best offense to seven runs, after no team had held Boston to just seven runs in a three-game series this season. The Indians got contributions from so many players, including Lonnie Chisenhall, who hit his first homer this season against a left-hander, and Coco Crisp, acquired for the stretch run, who had a crucial two-run home run during the clinching Game 3.When things like that happen, destiny seems to be in play, yet destiny only takes one team, which is why the Blue Jays-Indians ALCS should be fascinating. Here are five questions:Has the Toronto offense finally emerged?The Blue Jays scored 127 more runs than any American League team last season, but they scored 132 fewer runs this year, finishing fifth in the league in runs scored. They averaged 3.7 runs per game in September/October, the third team ever to go to the postseason as the lowest-scoring team in September/October. But now the Blue Jays look like the offensive powerhouse that they were for most of last season. They scored 22 runs in sweeping the Rangers, the fourth most by any team in a sweep in a division series. They got eight home runs from seven different players, tying a division series record.Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, free agents after the season, seem to be swinging for big, new contracts. Josh Donaldson has not hit a home run during this postseason, but he is quietly dealing with various injuries and still went 7-for-13, with four doubles in the division series. Donaldson scored the winning run in Game 3 from second base on a throwing error in the 10th inning. The gang is back together in Toronto. And it crushed Texas rotation: 16 earned runs in 10? innings.How good is the Cleveland bullpen?Its not just really good, it is different than most of the other pens because of Andrew Miller (1.45 ERA this season, with 0.69 WHIP, nine walks, 123 strikeouts). In Game 1 of the sweep against Boston, Miller pitched in relief in the fifth inning for the first time since 2013; it also was the first time since 2011 that he pitched in relief in three different innings. In Game 3, Miller threw two more scoreless innings and struck out three. The Indians can move Miller around and pitch him in any situation, because he is so versatile -- and because closer Cody Allen has, for the most part, got the ninth inning covered. In Game 1 of the division series, Allen and Miller threw 40-plus pitches, the first relief teammates to do that in a postseason game since 2008. Look for that to happen again in the ALCS. And look for that Cleveland defense, which is so good and so much better than two years ago, to help the pitching.How good is the Toronto bullpen?Really good. It threw 4? scoreless innings in the clinching Game 3 against the Rangers. In 14 innings during this postseason, the bullpen has allowed just two runs, including five scoreless frames (with one hit allowed) in the wild-card game against the Orioles. Closer Roberto Osuna, who left that wild-card game with a shoulder issue, was terrific in the division series. In the clinching Game 3 against Texas, Osuna retired all six batters he faced, striking out two and showing no signs of a shoulder issue. Francisco Liriano (concussion) might not be available for the ALCS -- and?Joaquin Benoit?might not be ready, either. It will be interesting to see if the Toronto pen can be as good against Cleveland as it has been so far during this postseason.How do we explain the Indians rotation?It is hard to believe that without injured starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, the Indians could hold the Red Sox -- who led the AL in runs scored, with 101 more than the next team, the Indians -- to just seven runs in three games. Trevor Bauer kept the Indians in the game until Miller arrived in Game 1. Corey Kluber, a Cy Young candidate, was marvelous in Game 2, allowing three hits and no runs in seven innings. Then Josh Tomlin gave the Red Sox five strong innings in Game 3. Tomlin allowed just 20 walks against 36 homers allowed this season, a plus-16; Carlos Silva is the only other pitcher to allow 16 more homers than walks in a season (2005). Salazar (shoulder) is working to try to be ready for the ALCS, but there are no guarantees there. But this is guaranteed: The Indians will start Kluber in Game 1 of the ALCS, then have him, if necessary, for Game 4 and -- this is a real stretch these days -- Game 7.What are the options for the Toronto rotation?The Blue Jays have all sorts of choices, none involving short rest. They can start the series with Marcus Stroman, who threw six innings (two runs) in the wild-card game against the Orioles. Or they can go with Marco Estrada, who shut down the Rangers (one run, four hits, 8? innings) in Game 1 of the division series, because that great changeup of his was unhittable. Or they can go with 20-game winner J.A. Happ, who beat the Rangers in Game 2 of the division series with five innings pitched and one run allowed. And they can wait instead of push Aaron Sanchez, keeping him for Game 3 or Game 4. Remember, over the final 21 games of the regular season, the Blue Jays rotation had a 2.08 ERA, the best in the big leagues. 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PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- With new coach Chris Ash and Rutgers facing a major embarrassment in a supposed step-down game, Janarion Grant showed why he is the Scarlet Knights most exciting player.Grant scored three touchdowns and Rutgers overcame an early scare against Howard in posting a 52-14 victory on Saturday, giving Ash his first win.Grant resurrected a stunned Rutgers (1-1) from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit with an 84-yard kickoff return , and he was in the center of a 21-point third quarter with touchdown runs of 58 and 21 yards.Cant say enough about Janarion Grant and what he brings to the offense and to special teams, Ash said. Hes right now our most electric player and we cant get the ball in his hands enough. Obviously the big kickoff return helped us generate some momentum there in the first half when things were bleak. Second half defensively, we did a better job of getting off the field.Quarterback Chris Laviano added three touchdown passes as the Scarlet Knights scored the final 52 points in wearing down Howard (0-2), an FCS opponent that was facing its second straight Big Ten Conference opponent.Grant was the difference as Rutgers rushed for 375 yards and had 512 yards in total offense. The senior wide receiver finished with six rushes for 106 yards, two receptions for 24 yards and three kickoff returns for 119 yards. His longer rushing TD came on a direct snap in a wildcat formation and was aided by a great block by Laviano.You just try to get him the ball as much as possible and let him do what he does, said Laviano, who was 11 of 22 for 137 yards and an interception. Its super exciting.Grant said his fifth career kickoff return for a touchdown was the turning point.I think that picked every guys head up, Grant said. You just cant give up because were down 14 points.Rutgers tied the game 14-all at the half and dominated in the final 30 minutes, limiting Howard to five yards in total offense.Laviano had touchdown passes of 22 yards to Andre Patton, 7 to Carlton Agudosi and 29 to Jawuan Harris.Kalen Johnson threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Robert Mercer on the opening drive of the game for Howard and he scored on a 15-yard run less than two minute later. It was set up by an interception by Alonte Dunn on Rutgers first play from scrimmage.I pretty much knew two scores against this team was not a safe haven for us, coach Gary Harrell said.dddddddddddd We had to continue to play well and we just didnt. We had a lot of mistakes. We had a sloppy finish. I was very disappointed the way we finished.THE TAKEAWAYHOWARD: Harrell may be second-guessing himself after taking out Johnson. He led scoring drives on the first two series and was then replaced by redshirt freshman Jason Collins for the third series, which came after Grants kickoff return. Harrell alternated his quarterbacks against Maryland and he did it again Saturday. The problem was Howard never got going again. Still, the Bison showed signs they will be able to compete in the MEAC and do better than their 1-10 mark a year ago.Harrell said Johnson earned the right to get the majority of snaps the rest of the season.RUTGERS: Despite the lopsided win, Rutgers is going to struggle this year. Howard gashed the defense with its running game and their quarterbacks had no problem finding open receivers. Against better competition the Scarlet Knights are going to be handled easily, much like No. 8 Washington did in the season opener. The most interesting aspect was that Rutgers used freshman quarterback Tylin Oden in the fourth quarter and he showed the athleticism that is needed in the power spread offense.SCARY INJURY: The game was delayed almost 10 minutes in the third quarter when Howard linebacker Marques Blanchard sustained an injury to his back.When I came on the field he had problems moving his lower extremities, then he started moving, Harrell said. I think he will be fine. He moved through all the necessary tests and he seems to be OK.Blanchard was to accompany the team back to Washington, Harrell said.MONEY BALL:Grant was a play too late to help his fellow Rutgers students. An auto dealership sponsored a contest in which 100 students would share $100,000 if the Scarlet Knights returned their opening kickoff for a touchdown. Grant returned the second one for a touchdown. A year ago, Grant was two kickoffs two late in the same contest, returning the third one for a TD against Norfolk State.UP NEXTHOWARD: The Bison play their home opener against Hampton on Sept. 17.RUTGERS: The Scarlet Knights stay home and face New Mexico on Sept. 17.---AP College Football Website: www.collegefootball.org ' ' '